MondayApril 18, 2011

(Atmospheric Heating; Video Flow Charts – The

Atmosphere & Fossil Fuels)

The Launch PadMonday, 4/18/11

No Launch Pad Today

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Assignments For This Six-Weeks Date Issued Date Due

Atmospheric Heating Heat is the flow of thermal

energy, and is always transferred from warmer to

cooler objects. There are three mechanisms

of heat transfer:Conduction through molecular activity.

Convection is mass movement within a substance, usually

vertical motions.Radiation (electromagnetic

radiation) travels at a velocity of 186,000 miles per second

in a vacuum.

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer

Figure 16.17

Atmospheric Heating Radiation (electromagnetic radiation) consists of different

wavelengths of energy:radio waves, microwaves, waves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet

(UV), x-rays, gamma (very short waves)

Visible light consists of an

array of colors we commonly call the

“colors of the rainbow.”

Rainbows are relatively common

optical phenomena

produced by the bending of light by

drops of water.

Atmospheric Heating Electromagnetic radiation is governed by basic laws. All objects, at whatever

temperature, emit radiation. Hotter objects radiate more total

energy per unit area than do cooler objects.

The hotter the radiating body, the shorter the wavelength of maximum

radiation.Hotter objects emit most of their radiation at shorter wavelengths;

hence they will appear to be bluer .Cooler objects emit most of their radiation at longer wavelengths;

hence they will appear to be redder.Objects that are good absorbers of radiation are good emitters as well.

Atmospheric Heating

The Earth’s atmosphere is largely transparent to incoming solar

radiation. Atmospheric effects include:

reflection (a surface’s albedo is the percent of solar radiation

reflected.)scattering

absorption Most visible radiation reaches the Earth’s surface, and about

50% is absorbed at the surface.

Average Distribution of Incoming Solar Radiation

Figure 16.20

Video Flow Charts – Our Restless Atmosphere

• The Atmosphere• Fossils Fuels

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